Saturday, February 19, 2011

True Wild Life | Common Frog | The common frog is a medium-sized species of frog that inhabits a wide range of habitats across much of Europe. Although the common frog is not as commonly seen in our gardens as it once was, the common frog still appears to be surviving effectively within its environment and is not considered to be an animal that is currently at risk from extinction. The common frog is found throughout the European continent, with the range of the common frog stretching from Ireland in the east to the mountains in western Russia. The common from is also found in parts of Scandinavia that actually lie within the cold Arctic Circle.

The common frog tends to grow to between 6 cm and 10 cm in length. The common frog has dark blotches that run down its back, with the body of the common frog ranging from green, to brown, to grey in colour. The common frog is said to be able to change its skin tone in order to fit in more effectively in its surroundings. Like many other frog species, the common frog has webbed toes and eyes on the top of its head, in order to better equip the common frog for its aquatic lifestyle. The male common frog can also be distinguished from the female, by a small swelling that appears on one of his toes during the mating season.

The common frog is a carnivorous animal and the majority of the common frog's diet consists of small invertebrates such as insects and spiders. The common frog also hunts larger invertebrates including worms and snails that are present in the common frog's woodland or marshland habitat. Due to its small size, the common frog often has numerous predators within its natural environment. The common frog is eaten by various animal species that includes foxes, cats, birds, snakes and even some large fish.

Common frogs tend to breed in the early spring, when mating takes place in calm, shallow pools of water. The female common frog lays up to 2,000 eggs in a sticky cluster that floats on the water's surface, known as frogspawn. Once developed the common frog tadpoles emerge into the water where they are fully aquatic until they metamorphose into adult common frogs and are able to leave the water.